Rupture support



April 1955 L. E. WEBSTER RUPTURE SUPPORT Filed Oct. 13, 1953 Low; 5. Nebsfen HHornoy United States Patent RUPTURE SUPPORT Louis E. Webster, Wiikes-Barre, Pa., assignor to The Webster Research and Manufacturing Company, Wiikes-Barre, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Appiication October 13, 1953, Serial No. 385,819

2 Claims. (Cl. 128-106) My invention relates to hernia which is a protrusion of a part from its normal cavity and relates primarily to a hernia situated in the groin (inguinal), the upper part of the thigh (femoral) and the navel (umbilical).

This invent-ion relates primarly to a holder for a pad which is adapted to impinge against the hernia to cause the hernia to be pressed back so that the organ within the body will assume its normal position.

Heretofore, apparatus for engaging reducible hernias have been used. However, the configuration of the pad which engages the reducible hernia is of'diiferent configuration.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to produce a rupture pad for a reducible hernia wherein the holder for the pad can be adjusted to fit the contour of the body.

Another object of my invention is to provide a holder for different configurated hernia pads or elastic bandage.

Another object of my invention is to provide an elastic bandage to treat a reducible hernia wherein the holder for the elastic bandage may be easily adjusted to fit the configuration of the body.

With the above objects in view, my invention embodies a holder of bright stainless steel made of a single stamping, wherein there are accurately formed resilient molds or pads detachably connected to the holder. The rupture support is made so that no metal parts can engage the body and there are no hooks to injure the undergarments, and there are no screws to come lose.

With my invention the only adjustment is the one which is first made so that the support may be used on the right or left or central part of the body.

Other objects of my invention are to provide an improved device of the character described, that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construct-ion, and which is highly eflicient in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, my invention consists in the details of construct-ion and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a rear view of a rupture support embodied in my invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the pad and the holder.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the holder and pad embodying my invention.

gigs. 4 and 5 is the holder embodying a different shaped a P Figs. 6 and 7 are a front and side View of a different shaped pad on a holder embodying my invention.

Figs. 8 and 9 are a front and side view of a different shaped pad on a holder embodying my invention.

Figs. 10 and 11 are a front and side view of a different shaped pad on a holder embodying my invention.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawing, wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, I show a rupture support wherein a metallic disc, generally designated as A, retains a resilient pad, generally designated as B, which is adapted to abut the body of the wearer and 2,705,950 Patented Apr. 12, 1955 a strap, generally designated as C, holds the unit about the body of the wearer.

The metallic member A is made of a single stamping of metal wherein there is a centrally cylindrical cavity formed by the base 10 and a curved central wall 12. Radially projecting outwardly from the open end of the wall 12 is a flange 14 made up of a plurality of segments 14A. The segments 14A are separated by a slot 16. The purpose of the plurality of the segments 14A is to enable the flange to be bent so that the resilient pad B may be flexed to conform to the configuration of the body. This is necessitated by reason of the fact that the hernia or rupture is located on the body at a place where adjustment of the holder must be made.

The resilient hernia engaging member B has a circular projection 17 which interfits within the cavity of the holder A and the resilient member has a radially extendmg flange 18 which overlaps the flange 14 of the metallic holder and the end of the flange 13 has a bead 20 which overlaps the edge of the flange 14, the surface of the hernia engaging member being adapted to project away from the holder A.

Mounted upon the base 10 are three equally spaced loops 24 which are adapted to be engaged by a wire 26 to which one end of the belt C is attached.

The rupture support is attached to the body by having a belt encircle the waistline and to have the belt pass around the crotch of the wearer to keep the belt firmly in position.

In other words, the rupture support is retained against the body by a three-way pull. It is to be pointed out that the rupture may occur on different persons, on different parts of the body. Where there is a different configuration and in order to permit the holder to be used upon different bodies it may be necessary to adjust the flange to provide for the necessary configuration.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I show a different shaped resilient pad B1, which is interfitted with the base A.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I show another type of resilient pad B2 which interfits with the metal holder A.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I show another type of pad B3 which interfits with the metal holder A.

In Figs. 10 and 11 I show another type of resilient pad B4 which interfits with the metal holder A.

Although my invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

I claim as my invention:

1. A hernia holder comprising a single metallic member having a central cylindrical cavity therein, a flange protruding from the open end of said cavity, said flange having a plurality of segments wherein one or more segments is adapted to be bent whereby said holder will conform to the shape of the wearer, wherein an elastic body abutting member is held within said central cavity.

2. A hernia holder comprising a metallic member having a central cavity therein, an elastic body abutting member interfitting within said cavity, integrally formed flange segments extending radially at the end of said central cavity member, each of said flange segments being adapted to be bent whereby the holder will conform to the shape of the body of the wearer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 702,741 Oliver June 17, 1902 FOREIGN PATENTS 144,928 Great Britain June 24, 1920 607,298 Great Britain Aug. 27, 1948 

